My heart's joy...

Dear Friends,

So much has happened since I last wrote! In March, Sally Robb and I began recording the “Mary's Touch” radio programs, and on May 1, the show went on the air! Since then, more than 40 stations have begun broadcasting the shows via radio and streaming audio. Now, six days a week, you can hear real-life stories of Mary’s love. If your community doesn’t have a station playing the show, you can listen online from any location in the world. To find a list of the stations and times visit the Mary's Touch Web site.

In late April, I was honored to participate at the Catholic Daughters of Texas conference in Dallas and to speak before the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (DCCW) conference in Waco. What dynamic and inspiring women I met at these conferences! I was struck by their quiet dignity and moved by their beautiful faith. These ladies are the faith keepers…the ones who embraced the faith of their mothers and fathers and who have, so generously, passed it on to their children. I am reminded of Mary, and I have an image of her guiding her young Son in the ways of her faith, teaching Him, as He sat on her lap, how to pray; raising Him to be a Godly Man. The women I spoke with at these conferences are such beautiful examples of how to carry on the legacy that is Mary’s “Yes.”

And speaking of Mary’s legacy, I am happy to tell you about two outreach programs that have been initiated through Mary’s Touch: “Mary’s Legacy,” which extends our Blessed Mother's "Yes” by promoting life-giving ministries, and “Through the Eyes of a Child,” which provides children with an opportunity to share their own personal stories of Mary’s love. So far, these programs have assisted Gabriel Project and two parochial schools in their fundraising efforts. You can learn more about Mary’s Touch outreach programs and our exciting work by visiting the Web site.

My work for Mother Mary has provided me with so many beautiful experiences. I have met many generous people who have shared their stories of Mary’s love, and I have been truly blessed to share them with you…and so, it is with mixed feelings that I tell you that I will discontinue my communications with you through this blog. I find that my time is now filled with the demands of producing “Mary’s Touch,” and it is there where my heart is, for I truly believe that more hearts can be touched by these stories when told by the people who lived these experiences, in their own words, with their own voices. It is my heart’s joy to follow Mary’s calling in this new direction, and I urge you to join me. Please visit http://www.marystouch.org/ There you can listen to beautiful one-minute stories of Mary’s love. There you will find the list of stations and times when “Mary’s Touch” is on the air.

In closing, I’d like to recommend a beautiful book to you…The Catholic Companion to Mary, written by Mary Kathleen Glavich. Based upon extensive research, the book presents what the Catholic Church believes about Mary. Don’t let this description fool you…the book presents Mary in a new and very real-to-life way. I promise you will discover a new way of thinking about her…and your relationship with her may grow in ways you never expected.

My friends, this is not a farewell letter. You can still follow my activities on the Mary’s Touch Web site and through the radio programs. Please tune in and listen to “Mary’s Touch.” We have many wonderful, moving stories to share with you. I promise…you will be inspired.

Blessings,
Cheri

To all mothers everywhere...

Special wishes for a beautiful Mother's Day today...with special wishes to our Blessed Mother. Happy Mother's Day!

“Jesus and God are going to come and change our hearts.”

* Yesterday, the second-grade students at Emmaus Parish received their First Holy Communion. The service was beautiful, and Father Samuel Hose, with the help of the First Communicants, provided us with a memorable learning experience. For his homily, Father Samuel asked the children a series of questions. When asked what Holy Communion was going to do for them, one little boy responded, “Jesus and God are going to come and change our hearts.”

Thank-you for that nugget of wisdom. Listening to those children respond to Father Samuel’s questions surely changed the hearts of all who were present. Watching those children receive their First Holy Communion brought tears to my eyes. We congratulate Father Samuel, Linda Chavez and the Faith Formation staff, and the parents and families of these children, and we thank them for the wonderful job they are doing in raising their children to be people of faith.

* Speaking of Father Samuel, we offer him our most sincere congratulations. On Friday, April 27, in a message from the Austin Diocesan Offices, the following announcement was made: “In order to serve the people of God, Bishop Gregory Aymond has made the following appointment: Very Rev. Samuel Hose as dean of the Austin South Deanery, for a three year term, effective March 28.”

Congratulations, Father Samuel, and thank-you for sharing your many gifts with Emmaus Parish, as well as the parishes of the Austin South Deanery.

* Pope Benedict XVI declared April 29, 2007 as the 44th World Day of Prayer for Vocations. This year’s theme is “The vocation to the service of the Church as communion.” How appropriate that the children of Emmaus Parish received their First Holy Communion on this day. We pray for these children and all children in the world. May they grow in love with their faith, and may the fruits of this love bring many new religious vocations to the Church.

* We have a lot to celebrate in May! May 3 is a National Day of Prayer. We have so much to be grateful for, and we offer our prayers of thanksgiving as we continue to offer petitions in support of everyone who has requested our prayers.

* May is the month of Mary, and she is honored on many occasions throughout the month. This year, the Feast of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament and the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima fall on Mother’s Day! Happy Mother's Day to all of our mothers and most especially to our Blessed Mother!

* “Mary’s Touch” radio programs and “Real-Life Stories of Mary’s Love” begin broadcasting this week on radio stations throughout the country. You can find a listing of the stations broadcasting “Mary’s Touch” at: http://www.marystouch.org/List%20of%20radio%20stations.htm. If you don’t see a station in your area, click the links to the stations. Many of them offer streaming audio broadcasts, so you can listen to the programs on your computer.

* Cheri has been traveling. In mid-April, she was in Fort Smith, AR visiting the parishioners and students at Immaculate Conception. April 27 through 29, she was in Dallas, TX for the Catholic Daughters of Texas conference. On Monday, April 30, Cheri is speaking before the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women in Waco. You can look forward to hearing from her when she returns. I’m sure she will have wonderful things to report about the people she’s met and the stories she’s heard.

God bless you all.
Sheila Setter

Musings on Recent Travels...

Finally, I was able to attend the Religious Education Congress held yearly in Anaheim, CA. Its reputation preceded my desire to attend. The conference is filled with workshops of the brightest and best in our Catholic faith—Jack Shea; Richard Rohr, OFM; and artist Brother Michael O'Neill McGrath—just to mention a few.

What really impressed me was the student rally the day before the Congress opened. In the convention hall were thousands of students from all over California, proclaiming their faith. I could see the next generation of our faith keepers, leaders in the Church both religious and lay. It was a good feeling. We’re in good hands.

I visited with some of the chaperones and church youth leaders and learned of new programs. I was reminded of their competition: high technology, the movie industry, and everyday life filled with temptations. May I emphasize the importance of faith and the beauty of the sacraments being taught in the home? Our youth leaders can’t do it all. Teaching our children is not an easy task, and my hat is off and my admiration goes to those who teach our youth.

The Religious Education Congress has grown over the years and is quite successful with just under 30,000 participants. I learned that Chicago is thinking of doing a conference based on the success in Anaheim. What about Texas?

Two weeks later, I was back in sunny California, this time in Fresno. I recorded two television shows based on the stories and artwork found in The Healing Touch of Mary. Jim Grant, the host, is an amazing person, and I only wish I could pick up his show, YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER here in Austin. I’ll be on KNTX, Channel 49 the first part of April and then again in May. If you see the program, let me know if you like it.

Once home, I had the privilege of interviewing Father Daniel Mahan, author of More Than Silver or Gold. It was one of those times that you just want to sit back, sipping a cup of coffee, and listen to one of the brightest minds and innovators in the church. His lectures are on stewardship, and trust me—they are inspiring. When I was growing up, the only kind of stewardship I was taught was tithing. We know that is important, but stewardship is so much more. Stewardship is a way of life that holds the promise for far-reaching renewal within the Church. And what is more than silver or gold? I urge you to get a copy of Father Mahan’s book and find out!

Father Mahan is the Executive Director of the Marian College Center for Catholic Stewardship, and before he had to leave for his next appointment, we talked about the new curriculum at Marian College. Having been in the educational world for a very long time, I am convinced that we now have an institution to train and teach our young future Catholic leaders.

Until next time, remember to listen to God. He has great plans for you!

Cheri

When It Doesn't Leave You Alone...

This past weekend, I attended the NEA (New Evangelization of America) Conference in Dallas. The first night of the conference, we were treated to a screening of Bella, the winner of the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival.

Bella is a movie you don’t want to miss. The story is about an international soccer star and an attractive waitress who experience an unforgettable day in New York City that changes their lives forever. Bella is a beautiful story about love, life, and relationships in the face of the unexpected. I find myself thinking about the story as I’m doing dishes or in the shower. To me that is a sign of a great movie. It doesn’t leave you alone.

That same night the producer and starring actor of Bella , Eduardo Verastegui, visited with us about “unusual” stories of miracles that happened during the filming. No doubt this movies was meant to be. Watch for it and don’t miss it.

Blessings,
Cheri

Changing the World...One Bead at a Time

We have a very active rosary ministry in our parish. In 2006, these ladies made and gave away close to 10,000 rosaries (yes that is correct—the number has four zeroes). One of their members makes rosaries for the babies baptized at the church, another serves our military with the rosaries she makes, many others make rosaries for the sick (they are constructed completely of plastic beads and cord so they don’t show up during medical procedures such as CT scans). As their coordinator, Annie-Alex Nathenson says, “with our hands, we are changing the world, one rosary at a time.”

In addition to coordinating the rosary ministry, Annie-Alex makes some of the most exquisite rosaries for purchase that I have ever seen. Many of them are made to commemorate special occasions, such as a wedding, first communion, or the birth of a child. She also makes friendship rosaries, angel rosaries, and theme rosaries. Each and every one of her rosaries is enclosed in a lovely lace or net bag drawn up with a drawstring. When you see one, you feel the urge to pick it up, and having done so, you feel drawn to prayer. Annie-Alex has a special gift for making rosaries. She attributes it to Our Blessed Mother. She dedicates herself to Mary’s work and consistently reminds others to give thanks for the special gifts they have received through her intercession. (If you want to see some samples of Annie-Alex’s work, you can check out her Web site at: http://beadstoblessings.com/.)

Recently, I gave Annie-Alex a box of my grandmother’s costume jewelry. I figured she might find some use for it with all of the rosaries she makes. She called me a short time later to tell me she had left something for me at the office up at the church. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that, from my grandmother’s jewelry, Annie had made me a rosary. It brings me such comfort when I pray on that rosary, and I think my grandmother would have enjoyed knowing that her pretty things have been transformed into something that moves others to prayer. If you have any leftover jewelry, you may wish to consider putting it to good use like Annie-Alex does. Better yet, send it to her. When you belong to a group that makes 10,000 rosaries in a year, you may need something with which to work!

Submitted by Sheila Setter

Our Lady of Lourdes

February 11^th is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. It commemorates the date in 1858 when our Blessed Mother made the first of 18 appearances to a poor little French girl, Bernadette Soubiroux. In each of these apparitions, Mary, as described by Bernadette, was "more beautiful than ever…she wore a white dress, an equally white veil, a blue belt, and a yellow rose on each foot."^[1]

During one of her appearances, Our Lady told Bernadette to drink from a spring within the grotto where she was kneeling. Where no water had previously flowed, a spring bubbled forth after Bernadette scratched away the dirt. To this day, water still flows. Over the years, thousands of sick and infirm have sought healing from the waters of the grotto at Massabielle, Lourdes. Many who have visited the site have received medically certified cures. Of those, 67^[2] have been declared miraculous healings. The last declared miracle occurred in 1987. Even today, Our Blessed Mother brings those in need of God’s healing love closer to Him and her Son.

In 1992, Pope John Paul II designated February 11^th as "World Day of the Sick." Like Bernadette, who struggled her whole life with the effects of chronic asthma, Pope John Paul II knew about pain. He endured great personal suffering following the 1981 attempt on his life, the effects of which dogged him the remainder of his years. Both Bernadette and Pope John Paul II were denied the physical relief that many sufferers have received from the healing waters of Lourdes; yet both Bernadette and Pope John Paul II understood the "perfect expression of redemption"^[3] that is accomplished through suffering. As our Blessed Mother told Bernadette, "I do not promise to make you happy in this world but in the other."^[4]

For those who suffer and do not find relief from their physical or mental pain, Pope John Paul II offered this comfort: "May the Blessed Virgin enable you to sense her presence and give comfort to your hearts! (As Jesus said,) 'When I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also' (Jn 14: 3)….Mary is the pledge of the fulfillment of Christ's promise…a sign of sure hope and consolation….(She) confirms this by her whole life, for she is a living witness of the victory of Christ, our Passover."^[5]

For those of us who do not suffer or who care for the suffering, Mary offers us a perfect example of love. By her actions, she challenges us to help other who are in need and to bring comfort to those in pain. As Pope John Paul II stated,

"'In those days, Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country…' (Lk 1:39). The words of the Gospel story have once more brought before the eyes of our hearts the young maiden of Nazareth as she makes her way to...her kinswoman Elizabeth…, in order to be of help to her. What strikes us about Mary is, above all, her loving concern for her elderly relative. Hers is a practical love, one that is not limited to words of understanding but is deeply and personally involved in giving help. The Blessed Virgin does not merely give her cousin something of herself; she gives her whole self, asking nothing in return. Mary understood perfectly that the gift she received from God is more than a privilege; it is a duty, which obliges her to serve others with the selflessness proper to love."^[6]

As we prepare to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, let us be mindful of Pope John Paul II’s words and our Blessed Mother’s example.

^[1] Lourdes-france.org (official site of the sanctuary Our Lady of Lourdes)—http://www.lourdes-france.org/
^[2] Currently another event is under review and may soon be declared a miraculous cure. See http://www.lourdes-france.org/
^[3] Homily delivered at the Grotto of Massabielle, Lourdes, France by Pope John Paul II on August 15, 2004.
^[4] Lourdes-france.org (official site of the sanctuary Our Lady of Lourdes)—http://www.lourdes-france.org/
^[5] Homily delivered at the Grotto of Massabielle, Lourdes, France by Pope John Paul II on August 15, 2004.
^[6] ibid.

Submitted by Sheila Setter

I need your input!

As you know, I recently formed Mary’s Touch, a nonprofit organization committed to advancing Our Blessed Mother’s “Yes!” Profits raised by Mary’s Touch are dedicated to promoting life-giving ministries. Last week, I met with Sheila to discuss the goals for Mary’s Touch for 2007. Dad always told me to write down my goals and stay focused. He believed that writing down your goals helped you to reach them at least 50% of the time. We made a list that I will be sharing with you over the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, I would really appreciate your input.

Do you know of an organization that honors Mary through its life-giving ministry? Are you a member of such an organization that could benefit from our help?

Our focus is on Mary. She is the Mother of God and our Mother. I will be sharing your ideas along with ours in the next few weeks. Respond please so our choice is well made.

Blessings,
Cheri